7 Steps to Mastering Integrity in Your Business Life
Updated: Jan 21, 2021
I’ve been studying the concept of “integrity” for over 45 days straight. I wanted to learn as much as I could because, quite honestly, I needed to fix this area of my life.
But now it’s time to stop talking “theory” and start putting things into action in our businesses. My employees, vendors, and clients will more likely remember what I do than what I say.
We can all sit and learn something for days and months, but in the business world, seeing is believing!
The bible says:
"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." (James 1 23-25 ESV)
God is looking for doers of the Word – people that listen intently to the lesson and apply it directly and immediately into their lives.
I’ve compiled a list of my favorite 7 actions you can take today to improve your integrity in business and in life. Do these so that your life as a whole comes into alignment with your true pure heart, opening up the floodgates of blessings that Jesus wants you to experience!
These are the 7 Godpreneur Rules to Mastering Integrity in Your Business Life
1) Godpreneurs Are Punctual
You can build integrity by being on time (or even early) to meetings.
Do you think your time is more important than the person you scheduled a meeting with? If you’re late, you’re selfish.
I know I’m being very blunt, but there’s no two ways around it.
I’ll admit that I say I’m going to be somewhere at 1 pm, and sometimes I get there at 1:05. That’s my lack of integrity. And because I know I suffer from this, I need to trick my brain into being at the meeting at 12:30 until I can master the art of being somewhere 10-15 minutes ahead of time, which is ideal.
Punctuality is important in business. It shows the person you’re meeting that you value them and their time. Business people appreciate a punctual person.
2) Godpreneurs Keep Good Company
You can build integrity by surrounding yourself with people who have good integrity.
1 Corinthians 15:33 says
“bad company corrupts good character.”
Don’t waste your time with people who can’t keep their word.
Because I’m working on my integrity, I’ve made it a point to surround myself with people who have integrity because the opposite of the verse above is also true: good company influences greater character!
Consider starting a group of like-minded Godpreneurs at your church who want to succeed and have integrity. Godpreneur Meetups are the action behind the biblical principle “iron sharpens iron”. Good Godpreneurs around you can make all the difference in the world.
3) Godpreneurs Do Not Commit To Everything
You can build integrity by saying “no” to certain requests for your time and effort.
If you have 100 things on your to-do list and struggle to balance all of your obligations, then you have integrity issues in the area of commitment.
I have goals, and taking the right steps to achieve them means I have to break off some existing commitments (your integrity will take a hit here) and say no to new opportunities that aren’t in line with my new goals (your integrity will regain points here).
Your commitments in business will drive your strategic priorities. Since your time is the most valuable asset you have, simplify what matters to your business right now and go after it. Integrity is a verb, not just good intentions.
4) Godpreneurs Keep Their Promises
You can build integrity by keeping your promises.
Don’t schedule a meeting with someone and then cancel because something else came up. People will forgive you, but they won’t forget. You might have the best reason in the world, but that can’t erase the memory of the cancelation.
I need to personally work on the concept that if I say I will do A, B, and C then I need to do A, B, and C. But admittedly, sometimes I do X, Y, and Z because it’s more important to me or to simply avoid doing the original commitment because it’s not suiting my needs anymore. This needs to stop.
You want people to talk behind your back and say “Man, that person really comes through with what they say they’re going to do!” Business people remember what you say, they remember a promise, and they remember when you fail to follow through on a promise because their own business or personal priorities rely on your word.
No matter what the cost, stand by your word in business. Your word is the currency of success.
5) Godpreneurs Practice Honesty In All Situations
If you want to set yourself apart from the rest of the businesses out there, practice honesty. Why? Because honesty is a virtue these days. People are actually surprised when others are honest, so they don’t forget you!
The bible says in James 5:12,
“But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.”
When I’m going to be late on a project, my clients are more appreciative when I come clean that I’m going to miss a deadline than if I wait to explain myself AFTER the deadline. Ironically, it actually works in my favor to communicate that BEFOREHAND. And I know it sounds like common sense to let a client know if you’re going to be late, but I’m the first to admit that I don’t always practice this. I will be moving forward.
The business world will trust you and respect you more for being honest and upfront in all situations, especially the toughest ones.
6) Godpreneurs Get Back In The Game
You can also build integrity by getting back up when you get knocked down.
When you mess up in business it’s always best to take 100% responsibility, learn from the mistake, apologize to anyone that may have been affected, and move forward. Sometimes just making this effort will build back the trust that was broken.
I can’t cover up or ignore mistakes I’ve made in my business partnerships or on client projects. I just need to face reality and make a better effort tomorrow.
7) Godpreneurs Write It Down
You can also build integrity by writing down your commitments.
If you commit to something, write it as a task, preferably in front of the person. If you commit to a meeting, immediately open your Google calendar and schedule the date/time and invite the person to the meeting right away using their email. Writing things down shows the other person that you intend to do exactly what you say.
I’m pretty good at this because I have so many things going on that I NEED a system and process to hold me accountable for doing what I said I would do.
You need to take the time to make a note of what you just committed to. Then your employees, vendors, contractors, prospects, and clients will see you mean it and you will actually remember to do what you say you will do!
God uses the Word to transform or minds. God uses our actions to shape our journey.
Remember, we are shaped by our actions and we’ll make the most impact by the things we don’t just learn, but we do.
Praying we can all be doers of the Word so we can all level up our integrity our marketplaces.